Who are the Batwa People?
The Batwa people are short people referred to as pygmies’ people who originated from the rain forests. The Batwa today have become conservation refugees evicted from their tradition hunting and gathering grounds, the rain forest of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo. Today the Batwa are denounced as gorilla killers and poachers and are readily blamed for any poaching that takes place in either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
This is an interesting and important opportunity to see and learn more about the Batwa way of life. These people were forced out of the forests when the government nationalized them in 1991, and their rich and interesting traditions are now a thing of the past. The cultural heritage centre gives you a chance to see how they lived for hundreds of years, as well as meet some of the community, and learn about the challenges they now face in cities/towns. Very interesting.
Normally a visit to the Batwa people is usually after a day with mountain gorillas. A lot of care is shown towards the gorillas, the trackers have established a trusting relationship with the families they track so the animals feel safe in human presence. And still, this is a visit on their terms. You quietly observe them without interacting with them, thus they remain wild and comfortable in their own environment. Priceless!
Seeing the gorillas up close is something that is hard to explain. The opportunity to spend time in the presence of mountain gorillas makes this an exceptional destination. The hour you spend with them is magical. Just being able to quietly observe their behavior as they sit, eating leaves and picking insects from each other’s fur is a breath-taking moment. It also fills adventurous, the rangers hacking at the dense vegetation (and it really is dense) to get us closer to various family members, but if you’re prepared, it’s certainly achievable. And in any case, the hour you spend with our gorilla cousins is something you will never forget.
Visiting the Batwa is a moving experience. Listening to their tales about the forest life the community used to enjoy and learning of their forceful eviction and the impact it has had is quite emotional. The community has sought to preserve that little bit of their culture in the little enclave forest.
The guides are knowledgeable and extremely enthusiastic. The entertainment by the Batwa is beautiful. The music has a special touch to it and there is delight as the community perform. You can add more to your tour for the same fee by adding a tour of the Batwa trade educational centre and a local clinic. The main tour through the village features the village coffee- processing and banana gin maker.
It’s a summer break for tourists, so fill free to ask them questions about their lives, such as what they did for fun. Plan on doing a little to a lot of walking. If you visit the education centre, it is down a moderately steep hill along a rough path, but not a problem if you don’t have knee issues.
Source of livelihood for Batwa. Batwa in this area lead a life of plight and poverty. They don’t have regular means of livelihood; they find inconsistent jobs and their existence is primarily dependent on the mercy of other people. They live a life of hand to mouth.
Dance of Batwa People. In Batwa society dancing serves the dual purpose of recounting history and a communal expression of joy. Batwa dance deserves more recognition and respect.
The Voice of Batwa People. The Batwa people have gotten a voice, there are Batwa organizations within Uganda that are speaking out and making a difference on their own behalf. The Dream still is to go back into the forest and live in coexistence with their environment and that includes the mountain gorillas where they hope once again to live peacefully with the Mountain Gorillas. A fee of 80$ is charged by Uganda wildlife authority an organization in charge of the trail to benefit the local community and their families.
